Page 132 of A Trial of Fate

“Speak the name of my ship and its captain into the marking, and we shall answer your call.” He removed a glove on his right hand, revealing the same tattoo that was now on my palm.

Daxton was immediately at my side, inspecting the marking made by Fjorda. “This is a very generous gift, Captain.”

“All for our champion. I believe great things will come from her. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to know theOpalcould one day be in her favor.” He winked at me, and a spark of hope ignited in my chest. They all believed I was different and that I was the salvation they had been waiting over five centuries for, and it was hard not to feel the weight of their hopes resting atop my shoulders.

“Thank you.” I smiled and closed my palm into my chest.

I was preparing myself to be the champion not only for the High Fae but for all of Valdor.No pressure, right?If I died in the labyrinth, they would set out in one hundred years and find another shifter. However, the state of the shoreline from when we first crossed the veil was devastating to see. The decay of the land was spreading faster than the queen could manage. It was already encroaching on the mainland, and no one was able to stop it back home. If Valdor had to wait for another hundred years for a champion… there very well might not be anything else left.

“Where’s mine?” Castor playfully held out his hand toward Fjorda. “I believe I have negotiated a deal or three for you in the past, Fjorda. Where is my special summoning mark?”

The captain merely looked at him in annoyance with a hint of trickery hidden beneath his smile. “Perhaps you should ask my first mate if you are worthy enough for this gift.”

Castor immediately glared and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I guess I will have to wait for another time then.”

Daxton reached out and placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder before opening his hand to take mine. It took me a moment to center myself, and Dax waited patiently for me. I was about to take my first footsteps on Inner Kingdom soil, the land of my ancestors.

The trials were weeks, no, perhaps only days away from beginning. It felt like I was standing at the base of the tallest mountain, being forced to scale the sheer cliffs with only my hands and feet. A daunting task that seemed like an impossible climb. I missed my friends. Rhea and Shaw would know exactly what to say to get me going at a time like this. The reality of it was that they weren’t here, so I put on a brave face and reached out to take Daxton’s hand.

My eyes traveled from our intertwined fingers to his gray stare that bore into my soul. It was like Daxton was peering into the depths of who I truly was at my core. Despite the lack of time knowing him, he had become one of my most trusted companions. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would do everything in his power to keep me safe and to help me achieve anything I set my mind to. This reassurance was like a shield of armor I could utilize to take on the world.

“Ready,” I said with a wave of confidence.

Pride beamed in Daxton’s eyes as silver flashed around us, and we were teleported off the ship and onto the shore.

“Welcome to the Inner Kingdom,” Dax announced.

In the dead of night, it was difficult to get a feel for this place, but one thing was for certain: magic was in the air. I could feel it with each breath my lungs inhaled, in the earth beneath the soles of my feet, and in the beauty of the land that stretched out all around us. The thick, luscious forest reminded me of home, but the trees here were stronger, older even. It had likely been growing for centuries, with the strength of the wild magic reinforcing its lifespan. The stars shone brightly above our heads, highlighted by a dimming crescent moon in the eastern sky. The world seemed to come alive around me, with different smells and sounds of creatures I had never heard before.

Out in the bay, I could see the white gleam of theOpalturn and begin sailing east back where we came from. “Where will they go?” I asked. They were trapped inside the veil along with all the other High Fae.

“Starfall Island,” Dax said as he checked over the supplies that he teleported with us onto the mainland. “They dock within my kingdom’s domain, residing on the island off shore to grant them access to lives surrounded by the sea. It is the least I can do, asking them to ferry us across the veil each century.”

“He is being modest like always.” Castor sighed.

“Are you pouting because you lost the company of Fjorda’s first mate this evening?” I teased.

Castor spun around and gave me a boisterous grin. “It is not my loss, but hers. I mourn for her. My skills in pleasuring those I choose to bed are legendary. I am known for my silver tongue in more ways than one.”

Dear… Gods, I thought with a loud eye roll. If there were an image of confidence tied with arrogance in the dictionary back home, it would have a portrait of Castor’s face.

A thin shield of ice materialized around Castor’s mouth, and I couldn’t help but fold over laughing as he tried to claw at the muzzle that silenced his incessant boasting. He was able to breathe properly, but despite his own magic, Castor could not overcome his brother’s.

“That’s enough for now, Cas.” Daxton was trying his best to conceal his amusement. And to my utter delight, he was failing miserably at it. “Don’t panic. I’ll release you once you calm down and take your post. Skylar and I don’t need to hear about all the things you can do with your silver tongue. You are on rotation to keep watch first.”

Castor glared at Dax and finally gave up fighting his ice gag.He stormed off near a boulder and perched himself on top, slouching over his legs with his chin resting in the palms of his hands.

“You’re never going to hear the end of that one.” I laughed.

“Only if I release his muzzle.”

“I still need him to teach me, and he needs to speak in order to do so.”

“I know.” Dax reached into a pack and began to unfold two bedrolls and spread various weapons along the ground. “It’s already gone. He’s just pouting. Would you mind gathering some kindling on the edge of the woods over there?”

“Sure thing.” I began walking toward the tree line when I suddenly got a chill running up my spine. “Do I need to be cautious about someone or something attacking me out here?”

Dax paused, and I could see he was genuinely considering my worries before answering. “No. Not this far from the wilted area; we should be fine. Castor and I won’t be out of your line of sight, so you’re safe.”

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